1. قَمَرٌ بِدَيْرِ الموصِلِ الأَعْلى

    أَنا عَبْدُهُ وهَواهُ لي مَوْلى

    A moon at the Monastery of Upper Mosul—

    I am his slave, and his love is my master.

  2. لَثَمَ الصَّليبَ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ حَسَدٍ

    قُبَلُ الحَبيب فَمي بِها أَوْلى

    He kissed the cross; in jealousy I said:

    “My mouth has a better claim to the beloved’s kisses.

  3. جُدْ لي بِإِحْداهُنَّ كَيْ يَحْيا بِها

    قَلْبي فَحَبَّتُهُ عَلى المَقْلى

    Bestow one of them on me, that it may revive

    my heart, whose very core lies on the brazier.”

  4. فَاحْمَر مِنْ خَجَلٍ وَكَمْ قَطَفَتْ

    عَيْنَي شَقائِقَ وَجْنَةٍ خَجْلى

    He reddened with shame—and how many times

    have my eyes plucked anemones from a bashful cheek!

  5. وثَكِلْتُ صَبْري عِنْدَ فرْقَتِهِ

    فَعَرَفْتُ كَيْفَ تَحَرَّق الثَّكْلى

    Bereft of patience when he departed,

    I learned how a bereaved mother burns.